Micheál Martin: “Working closely and cooperatively with the European Parliament is essential to delivering a successful Presidency.”

The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire. The situation in the West Bank is deteriorating. The behaviour of the Netanyahu government is increasingly extreme.

These are scientists and people with expert knowledge – they’re not politicians – who meet to assess drugs.

In our view reform is important, we have to reform our systems on a continuing basis and make them more effective, efficient and better value for money and take out perverse incentives.

We must defend and vindicate these values - both within Europe and globally - and this parliament has a vital role to play.